Russia: Murder of Nemtsov Remains Unsolved

Washington

February 26, 2016

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the murder of Boris Nemtsov, a prominent Russian opposition leader, Freedom House issued the following statement:

“Russia’s government has yet to bring to justice those who planned or carried out the murder of Boris Nemtsov, who was killed within sight of the Kremlin,” said Robert Herman, vice-president for international programs. “We remember Nemtsov as a champion of freedom. The international community should hold the Russian government accountable for his murder until it demonstrates a serious intent to prosecute the perpetrators.”

Background:

Nemtsov was murdered February 27, 2015, on the eve of an opposition march he was expected to lead to call on Vladimir Putin’s government to address political and socio-economic reforms. After refusing to classify the case as a crime against a state or civic leader, authorities arrested five suspects for involvement in the murder and, in January 2016, declared the investigation closed.